New England Patriots notebook: Bruschi focused on getting better

Tedy Bruschi probably violated some Patriots code of conduct Sunday when he began his first media session of training camp by shaking hands with several reporters.

By Eric McHugh

Tedy Bruschi probably violated some Patriots code of conduct Sunday when he began his first media session of training camp by shaking hands with several reporters.

The greeting was something he wouldn’t have been able to do around this time last year because a broken right wrist put him on the shelf for the entire preseason schedule and Week 1 of the regular season. Bruschi said he’s feeling just fine now, although he still has a wrap on the wrist.

Does he plan to play without it when the games begin?

“I don’t know,” the veteran linebacker said. “Right now this is what I have on it. Shoot, it’s what it is. Coming back from anything just a year later you still want to put a little bit of protection on it. That’s all I’m doing.”

Bruschi did a lot last season in 15 games, leading the Pats in tackles for the first time in his career with 124. He also paced them with 25 in the playoffs. Still, there were whispers that he had lost a step – no crime, given that he was only a year removed from a stroke.

“I need to get better. I know this,” he said. “That’s all I’m focusing on. I’m out here at training camp practicing to get better.”

Having faced his own mortality, Bruschi, 34, now is staring at what might be called his football mortality. The point was driven home this offseason when two of his famous contemporaries and former teammates – Jets running back Curtis Martin and Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe – called it quits.

“Seeing Drew retire and seeing Curtis retire, you can’t play this game forever,” Bruschi said. “I know that, but I’m having a lot of fun still.”

Certainly, advanced age doesn’t seem to be deterrent to the Patriots when it comes to linebacker. Traditionally averse to drafting at the position, the team has instead stocked up on veterans. The four projected starters – Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin and Adalius Thomas – will be 30 or older by opening day. Then there are key reserves Junior Seau, 38, and Chad Brown, 37.

“Junior’s 18,” years in the league, Bruschi said. “Chad, what is he? Sixteen or something? (Fifteen actually.) Me 12. Everybody’s up there. We’ve got a veteran crew, a true veteran crew at linebacker. I think that’s good I think we can do some special things.”

School days

Brandon Meriweather said veteran safety Rodney Harrison has been a mentor to him already. Asante Samuel and Chad Scott inadvertently might wind up being instrumental in Meriweather’s rookie development, too.

Samuel’s continued absence (the disgruntled franchise cornerback is staying away from camp in protest) and Scott’s knee injury (he was hurt in Friday evening’s practice) have pushed Meriweather up the depth chart at corner. Primarily a safety at Miami, Meriweather (5-11, 200) did see time at corner with the Hurricanes and seems well suited for it at the pro level.

“Right now, I’m doing whatever the coach asks me to,” said Meriweather, who made three starts at corner as a senior en route to earning All-ACC second-team honors. “If he wants to put me wherever, I’ll go wherever. Every spot, I just have fun with it. I’m really not trying to focus on what’s better and what’s more comfortable.”

Ellis Hobbs and Randall Gay continue to work as the first-string corners with free agent Tory James spelling them. On Sunday, Meriweather saw plenty of action, too, matching up against Randy Moss outside and covering Wes Welker in the slot. He wouldn’t have been able to do either had he not ended his one-day holdout and signed his contract on Saturday.

Meriweather said a long delay never was part of the plan.

“I felt like the more days you miss, the farther behind you are, and I didn’t want to be far behind, being that I’m a rookie,” he said. “I talked to my agent and I told him that no matter what, I can’t miss too many days, and he understood that.”

Quick kicks

With David Thomas on PUP, and Kyle Brady and Garrett Mills sitting out, the Patriots were down to two tight ends during the morning practice. Kyle Brady was back for the evening session, which was moved indoors to the Dana-Farber Field House because of rain James had the play of the morning when he picked off Tom Brady on a deep overthrow intended for Jabar Gaffney Running back Laurence Maroney and linebackers Junior Seau and Eric Alexander continue to wear red, non-contact jerseys Receivers Troy Brown, Donte’ Stallworth and Chad Jackson, all on PUP, have yet to make their camp debuts Today’s practice is set for 2:30-4:30 p.m. The rest of the week’s schedule – Tuesday (8:45-10:45 a.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.); Wednesday – 2:30-4:30 p.m.; Thursday – 8:45-10:45 a.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Friday – 9-10:30 a.m. only.

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